Taunton Town 2-1 Yate Town
Forkuo own goal (2) Simpson (42) Jackson (12)
Southern League Premier Division South
Wednesday 14th August 2025
Taunton Town clear the ball following a Yate attack.
Yate Town can count themselves unlucky not to have secured a point on their travels last night as Taunton Town made it two wins in two games this season and sit in second place, one of just three teams who have a one hundred percent record after just two games.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, kept the same eleven that ended the opening game against Sholing FC last Saturday, making just one change, on the bench, with Theo Jeremy, replacing Dan Ball in the squad, with the defender having to go off injured on Saturday, with Lewis Hall taking his place from the start.
The game was only three minutes old when a cross from the right was inadvertently tuned into his own net by Yate defender Jeffrey Forkuo as he tried to clear a cross from the right, and the ball spun off him and looped over Aaron Sainsbury.
However, Yate Town showed great character to respond immediately to this set back and started to dominate play with some flowing moves of real quality. They were rewarded after 12 minutes when Jeffery Forkuo & Lloyd James worked the ball to Joe Guest whose cross was met by Marlon Jackson, who coolly slotted the ball past Frankie Phillips in the home goal.
Marlon Jackson gets the ball under control before firing past Frankie Phillips to level the scores.
The next minutes were pivotal to the result as Yate Town created a number of chances with Lucas Tomlinson bringing a fine save from Phillips, Charlie Moody shooting just wide and Tomlinson being robbed as he appeared to break clear. Moody was very influential in midfield, with Marlon Jackson leading the line superbly as Yate continued to look for the goal that would put them in front but they were to rue these missed opportunities.
Taunton’s Niall Thompson and Yate Town’s Charlie White in action.
Niall Thompson was always a threat in the first half down the right for the Peacocks and in one attack he put a cross into the penalty area that evaded all the home attackers and went out of play.
Jayden Nielsen brought an excellent save from Aaron Sainsbury, this being the only time in the game that he was extended.
With half time approaching and Taunton Town starting to gain more possession, a move down the right ended with Kane Simpson slotting the ball home, for what proved to be the eventual winner.
This was a blow for the Bluebells to find themselves in arrears and during stoppage time, Yate Town defender, Lewis Hall, went down injured in the penalty area and after a lengthy period of treatment had to leave the field of play, with Dan Dempsey taking his place. In the closing seconds of the half Jayden Nielson shot just over the bar following a corner.
The first half was very entertaining but there were fewer chances in the second half with Taunton happy to keep possession and play the ball around rarely threatening the visitor’s goal. Frankie Phillips had to tip a Charlie White effort over the crossbar and Jayden Nielson fired just wide after a quick Taunton break.
Both managers made a number of substitutions and as Taunton looked to close the game down, Yate Town substitute Wil Tuner started to caused them problems, firing one free kick over the bar, but much as Yate Town looked for the equaliser, they could not find a way through the well organised home defence.
With Yate Town already having a number of players on the injured list, the news on Lewis Hall isn’t encouraging as he had to go to hospital in Taunton with a shoulder and leg injury.
The Bluebells showed that they have enough to compete in this league and when the injured players return this will only add to what they can achieve. Last night they showed good ability and real character but key moments decided the result.
Taunton Town: Phillips, Thompson, Grimes, Woodhouse, Montague (Croome 85), Simpson, Brain (Gould 90+2), Seymour (Purrington 70), Brain, Owers (Towns 70), Nielsen, Moulden (Hodgson 78)
Unused subs: None
Bookings: Owers (65), Purrington (90+4)
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Forkuo, Britton, Hall (Dempsey 45+4), White, James, Tomlinson (Turner 57), Guest, Grubb, (Cross 73), Moody, Jackson (Jeremy 81)
Unused subs: Taylor
Bookings: None
Referee: Luke McFarlane
Attendance: 687